Medal of Honor Winner Asks to Return to Duty

[Locutus]

By LOLITA BALDOR
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
The former Army captain who received the Medal of Honor on Tuesday has asked to return to active duty in the Army, a rare move by an officer who has lived to wear the military's highest award.

Two U.S. officials tell The Associated Press that William D. Swenson has submitted a formal request to the Army and officials are working with him to allow his return.

Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in the White House Tuesday afternoon for risking his life to recover bodies and save fellow troops during a lengthy battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border in 2009.

more

Medal of Honor Winner Asks to Return to Duty

Former Army Capt. William Swenson receives Medal of Honor at White House - The Washington Post

Having that mutt barry put that on his neck must have made him a little sick but that's just me thinking out loud.

 

[tay]

He should be careful what he asks for; He may get Tillmaned.............



Swenson’s path to the White House ceremony was rocky one. After he criticized his Army superiors, saying they failed to provide enough air and artillery support during the 2009 engagement, his medal nomination was delayed for years. Amy officials said his nomination packet was lost in a computer system for 19 months.

 

[Locutus]

Medal of Honor Recipient William Swenson’s Request For Artillery Support Were Denied 10 Times During Battle of Ganjgal Because of Overly Strict ROE…

And the clown hanging the medal around Captain William Swenson’s neck is the one who had those rules of engagement put in place.

Via Daily Mail:

The American hero awarded the Medal of Honor earlier this week for his bravery in fighting off 60 Taliban almost single-handedly for seven hours has spoken of his anger that repeated requests for backup during the ordeal were ignored by his commanders back at base.

Retired Captain William Swenson was awarded the nation’s top military medal by President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. The President said that when Swenson’s comrades needed him, he ‘was there for his brothers’…’we thank God he was there for us all.’

But now Swenson, 34, has spoken out about his frustration that his repeated – as many as ten – requests for backup were ignored by commanders who feared involvement would lead to civilian casualties.

Swenson was with a group of U.S. Marines and Afghan National Troops when they were ambushed from all sides outside the town of Ganjar on September 8, 2009, killing 10 Afghan and four American troops.

He called back to base for artillery fire which would have provided them with cover while they moved off the battlefield, but his request was repeatedly denied.

In an interview with David Martin of CBS News, Swenson was asked if the decision had left him bitter.
‘Was I bitter? I was angry,’ he replied.

‘If I call for artillery support,’ Swenson said, ‘I do so understanding the possibility of civilian casualties. . . . But that’s my decision. That’s my responsibility, my call – by doctrine – not somebody who is sitting several kilometers away.’

The lack of artillery support left Swenson and his men surrounded by enemy on three sides.
​

 

[petros]

Having that mutt barry put that on his neck must have made him a little sick but that's just me thinking out loud.

And that is why he is returning to service because the Commander in Chief is a mutt?

That's pretty pathetic even from you.